Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-05
HENRY CLAY.

In 1899, with ell the ardOr OF
early manhood, Henry Clay urged
upon the people of Kentucky to in'
sert in their State Constitution a
prohibition of slavery. From 1870
to 1852 he expended the last rem
nants of his strength IN establish
ing ''as a finality' a measure to
give slavery a new lease of exist
ence throughout the United States.
Between these two extremes OF time
and purpose lies the most varied
and remarkable career OF American
craftsmanship. Parts OF it may be
set forth in strange contrast with
other parts, yet through the whole
there is constantly manifest a high
and honorable ann, a Gxed princl'
ple-an overpowering devotion to
the American Union. a fresh
study of this career, so attractive
and instructive, is presented by
Mr. Carl Schurz in the latest install
ment of the valuable series OF
"American Statesmen" Mr.. Schurz
is well qualified for the task assign
ed him by the editor of the SERIES
His wide experience in the field OF
politics, his years of service in the
Senate and the Cabinet, his ac-
knowledged mastery of the English
language, establish his claim to be
heard on this important theme
Nor does it destroy this claim that
in one respect Mr.. Schurz is at the
opposite pole of political thought
and feeling from the statesman
whose life and character he define.
ates. Mr.. Schurz is cosmopolite;
though from love of liberty he has
assumed the duties and privileges
of American citizenship, he is dom
iciIed in no particular State. But
Henry Clay's love of the Union
sprang from his love of Kentucky.
His home in Ashland was the shrine
to which his devoted partisans ire
quently repaired. His advocacy of
internal improvements originated
in his perception of their absolute
need for the firm attachment of his
section to the Union. His Gamer
lean System" whose name Mr..
Schurz finds it hard to explain but
easy to deride, meant the constant
preference of domestic interests,
and especially the protection OF
home industry, as essential to ma
tional independence. The success
sive compromises with which Clay's
name is indissOlubly associated,
we're the extention of the policy al
ready in operation in the border
States. AS he submitted when his
anti.slavery inclinatiOns we're more
than once oyerruled by the decis'
ion of his pro.slavery neighbOrs, he
enjoined upon all other lovers OF
the Union to submit TO the will of
the majority, within the restrictions
of the Constitution. But his ardent
love of home and its institutions
and policy did not preclude the
widest extent OF goodwill to others.
Deep.rooted in the soil OF Kentucky,
his affections could yet embrace
the utmost limits of the American
nation, and his cordial sympathy
could be given to nationalities
struggling for independence and
liberty in whatever quarter of the
world.
The cosmopohte does not fail to
recognize this principle Of the pa
trlot's career; he gives it due and
striking emphasis. Thus he quotes
from Clay's speech at the opening
of Congress in 1917, when Presi-
dent Monroe announced his Objec-
ton to granting government, ald'to
internal improvement as unccnsti:
tutional, and following in Jeffer-
sons footsteps, suggested an amend.
ment of the Constitution as a neces-
sary preliminary. "What was the
object OF the Constitution" Clay
asked, sin forming the Constitu-
tionY The leading object was
UNION! Union, then, peace, exter.
nal and internal, and commerce,
but more particularly union and
peace, the great objects of the franz
ers OF the Constitution, should be
kept in view in the Interpretation
of any clause of it; and where 1t is
susceptible of various Interpreta-
tions, that construction should be
preferred which tends TO promote
the objects of the trainers Of the
Convention, to the consolidation
of the UniOn.r After further quo
tatiOn to the same purpOrt, Mr.
Schurz elOquently yet guardedly
declares: "Here was the we'll
spring from which Henry Clay drew
his political inspiratiOns,-a grand
conception of the future destiny Of
the American Republic, and of a
government adapted to the folfill'
ment of that great destiny; an ar.
dent love for the Union to be main
tanned at any price; an imaginative
ent husiasm which infused its patrl
otic glow into his political opinions
but which was also apt to carry
him beyond the limits OF existing
things and conditions, and not sci
dom united him for the formation
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